Package Device

ABSTRACT

A package for chewing gum and other edible products having one compartment which may hold the pieces of chewing gum, and an attached rear second compartment, which may serve as a pocket for waste.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to packaging and, in various embodiments, to chewing gum packaging that may have an attached supplemental compartment, in order to permit proper disposal of wrappers and provide for a cleaner environment.

2. Background

Chewing gum is popular throughout culture for a myriad of reasons. However, once a piece of chewing gum is unwrapped, consumers have the dilemma of what to do with the gum wrapper. To dispose of it the consumer turns to a variety of convenient options be it a pocket, waste basket, purse, or in most instances, littering.

Accordingly, there is a need for a solution to the disposal of chewing gum wrappers, a potential place for disposal of chewed gum itself if properly wrapped for disposal, and lastly prevention of littering and the promotion of a healthier, green environment.

The foregoing discussion is intended only to illustrate some of the shortcomings present in the field of the invention at the time, and should not be taken as a disavowal of claim scope.

SUMMARY

In accordance with general aspects of at least one form, there is provided a gum package device wherein the back side of the gum package has two side members extending from the back side, an additional face connecting the two side members creating an expanding secondary compartment that is open at the top. The secondary compartment is able to close and reopen as needed by the consumer in order to dispose of gum wrapper and gum waste.

In accordance with other general aspects of at least one form, there is provided a gum package wherein the back side of the gum package has two lateral side members extending from the back side, an additional face connecting the two lateral side members and having an extending flap in order to close both the primary compartment, wherein the edible products are contained, and the secondary compartment, by folding the extending flap over both compartments, and is sealed by placing the tab of the extending face in a slit on the front face of the primary compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a package for an edible product in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of another form of package for an edible product;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the package of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the package of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of yet another form of package device for an edible product;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the package of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the package of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of yet another form of package device for an edible product;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the package device of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the package device of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of yet another form of package device;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of yet another form of package device;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of still another form of package device; and

FIG. 16 is a top elevational view of the form of package device in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment”, or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments”, “in one embodiment”, or the like in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features, structures, or characteristics of one or more other embodiments without limitation. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which assist in illustrating the various pertinent features of the package design. While the following descriptions will be referencing gum packaging, this invention is applicable to other food or other packaging devices. Also, the materials to form the package device may be paperboard blanks, cardboard, hard paper, light cardboard, foil paper, etc; however, other similar and known materials are also applicable.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 there is shown one embodiment of a package device, generally represented as 10, for pieces of an edible product such as chewing gum. Package device 10 includes a primary compartment 12 for the edible product, and has front member 16, side members 18 and 20, and bottom member 25 as seen in FIG. 2. A secondary compartment 14 for receiving waste materials is attached adjacent to primary compartment 12, and has a separator member 19 between compartments 12 and 14 that may be the same material as the other members of the packaging device, and two lateral side members 26 and 28, which may be triangular in shape, extending from side members 18 and 20. Side members 26 and 28 may fold down their respective centerlines, which allows the secondary compartment 14 to expand and contract. The secondary compartment may include a back member 22 attached to lateral side members 26 and 28. Back member 22 may have an extending flap 24, having a tab 30 extending from its leading edge. The package device 10 may be closed by folding flap 24 over the top sides of both primary and secondary compartments, 12 and 14 respectively, utilizing the tab 30 that is inserted in slot 32 formed in front face 16 shown in FIG. 3. However, other closure members such as temporary adhesive, Velcro®, Ziploc®, double-sided tape, etc. may be used. The perspective view of FIG. 1 and the side view of FIG. 2 of embodiment 10 are shown in the open position. FIG. 3 shows a frontal perspective view of embodiment 10 of the package device in the closed position.

The embodiment of the package device 100 depicted in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 includes a primary compartment 112 for edible products and having a front member 116, side members 118 and 120, and bottom member 125 as seen in FIG. 5. A secondary compartment 114 is attached adjacent to primary compartment 112, and may include a separator member 119 between compartments 112 and 114 that may be the same material as the other members of the packaging device, and two lateral side members 140 and 142, which may be rectangular in shape, extending from sides 118 and 120. Secondary compartment 114 may have side members 140 and 142 and bottom member 143, which may fold down their respective centerlines, to expand and contract. The secondary compartment may include a back member 122 connected to lateral side members 140 and 142. Back member 122 may have an extending flap 124 having a tab 130 extending from its leading edge. The package device of embodiment 100 may be closed by folding flap 124 over the top sides of both primary and secondary compartments 112 and 114, respectively, utilizing tab 130 that is inserted in slot 132 formed in front face 116 shown in FIG. 6. However, other closure members such as temporary adhesive, Velcro®, Ziploc®, double-sided tape, etc. may be used. The perspective view of FIG. 4 and the side view in FIG. 5 of embodiment 100 are in the open position. FIG. 6 shows a frontal perspective view of embodiment 100 of the package device in the closed position.

The package device of embodiment 200 depicted in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 includes a primary compartment 212 for the edible product, and having a front member 216, side members 218 and 220, a separator member 219, that may be the same material as the other members of the packaging device, and having extending flap 250, and bottom member 224. Extending from flap 250 is tab 252. Flap 250 may fold over primary compartment 212 in order to close the primary compartment 212. FIG. 9 shows tab 252 placed in slot 254 on front member 216 in order to close the first compartment 212. A secondary compartment 214 for receiving waste materials is attached adjacent to primary compartment 212, and may have lateral side members 226 and 228, which may be triangular in shape, a back member 222, and shares the lower portion of separator member 219 with the primary compartment 212. Side members 226 and 228 may fold down their respective centerlines, which may expand and contract secondary compartment 214. The secondary compartment 214 may be closed at 230 using a temporary adhesive, Velcro®, Ziploc®, double-sided tape, or other suitable closure device. The side view of embodiment 200 in FIG. 8 shows the packaging device with compartment 212 open and compartment 214 open. FIG. 13 generally represented as 200′, depicts the package design as generally represented by 200 of FIGS. 7, 8, and 9; however, the package design 200′ may utilize a secondary flap 256 extending from or adjacent to separator member 219 that folds over the secondary compartment 214 on to face 222 in order to close the secondary compartment 214 by means of temporary adhesive, Velcro®, Ziploc®, double-sided tape, a tab, or other suitable closing device 258 on secondary extended flap 256.

The embodiment of packaging device 300 depicted in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 includes a primary compartment 312 having a front member 316, side members 318 and 320, separator member 319 having an extending flap 350, and bottom member 324 as seen in FIG. 11. Extending from flap 350 is tab 352 and flap 350 folds over the primary compartment 312 in order to close the primary compartment 312. The secondary compartment 314 is attached adjacent to primary compartment 312 and may have lateral side members 340 and 342 that may be rectangular in shape, extending from side members 318 and 320, a back member 322, and a bottom member 343. A separator member 319, that may be the same material as the other members of the packaging device may separate primary compartment 312 from the secondary compartment 314. Side members 340 and 342 may fold down their respective centerlines, which may expand and contract secondary compartment 314. The secondary compartment 314 may be closed at 330 using a temporary adhesive, Velcro®, Ziploc®, double-sided tape, or other suitable closing device. The side view of embodiment 300 in FIG. 12 shows the packaging device with primary compartment 312 open and secondary compartment 314 open. FIG. 12 shows tab 352 placed in slot 354 on frontal face 316 in order to close the first compartment 312. FIG. 14 shows another form of the packaging device 300′. In this form, the package design may have an extending flap 356 that is a secondary flap extending from or adjacent to separator member 319 that folds over the secondary compartment 314 on to face 322 in order to close compartment 314 by means of a temporary adhesive, Velcro®, Ziploc®, double-sided tape, a tab, or other suitable closing device 358 on secondary extending flap 356.

The embodiment of packaging device 400 depicted in FIGS. 15 and 16 includes a primary compartment 412 having front member 416, side members 418 and 420, separator member 419, that may be the same material as the other members of the packaging device, and has an extending flap 424, and bottom member 425 as seen in FIG. 15. Extending from flap 424 is tab 452 and flap 424 may fold over primary compartment 412 in order to close the primary compartment. The secondary compartment 414 is attached adjacent to primary compartment 412 and has a back member 422 that is attached to separator 419 along side members 418 and 420 and bottom member 425. The top view of FIG. 16 shows the packaging device 400 in an expanded position where flap 424 is folded over primary compartment 412 and secondary compartment 414 is expanded yet sealed by means of closure device 430 which may include and is not limited to a temporary adhesive, Velcro®, Ziploc®, double-sided tape, or other suitable closure device.

Thus, various embodiments provide for gum packaging devices each having a separate waste disposal compartment. While the various embodiments have been described as having exemplary designs, these embodiments may be further modified within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. This application is, therefore, intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the various embodiments using their general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains. 

1. A package device for containing pieces of an edible product, comprising: two adjacent compartments including a primary compartment formed to receive and contain pieces of an edible product and a secondary compartment formed to receive and contain waste material from the edible product; wherein the primary compartment includes a front member, a bottom member, and two lateral side members, and a separator member, and the secondary compartment is adjacent to the separator member and has two lateral side members, and a back member selectively movable between a first contracted position and a second extended position, the back member having an extended flap; and wherein the extended flap may fold over and close both primary and secondary compartments, and includes a closure member for engaging the front member of the primary compartment.
 2. The package device of claim 1 wherein the side members of the second compartment are foldable and triangularly shaped.
 3. The package device of claim 1 wherein the side members of the second compartment are foldable and rectangularly shaped.
 4. The package device of claim 2 wherein the packaging device is formed from paperboard blanks.
 5. The package of claim 3 wherein the packaging device is formed from paperboard blanks.
 6. A package device for containing pieces of edible product, comprising: two adjacent compartments including a primary compartment formed to receive and contain pieces of edible product and a secondary compartment formed to receive and contain waste material from the edible product; wherein the primary compartment includes a front member, a bottom member, two lateral side members, and a separator member, and the secondary compartment is adjacent to the separator member and has a back member selectively movable between a first contracted position and a second extended position, and further comprising a first closure device for the primary compartment, and a second closure device for the secondary compartment.
 7. The package device of claim 6 wherein the separator member has an extended flap; and wherein the extended flap may fold over the primary compartment, and includes a first closure member for engaging the front member of the primary compartment.
 8. The package device of claim 6 wherein said second compartment further comprises lateral side members connecting said back member to said package device.
 9. The package device of claim 8 wherein the side members of the secondary compartment are foldable and triangularly shaped.
 10. The package device of claim 8 wherein the side members of the secondary compartment are foldable and rectangularly shaped.
 11. The package device of claim 6 wherein the second closure device comprises a temporary adhesive.
 12. The package device of claim 6 wherein the second closure device comprises a Ziploc® closure.
 13. The package device of claim 6 wherein the second closure device comprises a Velcro® closure.
 14. A package device for containing pieces of edible product, comprising: two adjacent compartments including a primary compartment formed to receive and contain pieces of an edible product, and a secondary compartment formed to receive and contain waste material from the edible product; wherein the primary compartment includes a front member, a bottom member, two lateral side members, and a separator member having front and back extending flaps, and the secondary compartment is adjacent to the separator member and has two lateral side members, and a back member selectively movable between a first contracted position and a second extended position; and wherein the front extending flap may fold over the primary compartment, and includes a first closure member for engaging the front member of the primary compartment; and wherein the back extending flap may fold over the secondary compartment and includes a second closure member for engaging the back member of the secondary compartment.
 15. The package device of claim 14 wherein the side members of the secondary compartment are foldable and triangularly shaped.
 16. The package device of claim 14 wherein the side members of the secondary compartment are foldable and rectangularly shaped.
 17. The package device of claim 14 wherein the second closure member comprises a temporary adhesive.
 18. The package device of claim 14 wherein the second closure member comprises a Ziploc® closure.
 19. The package device of claim 14 wherein the second closure member comprises a Velcro® closure.
 20. The package device of claim 14 wherein the back extending flap has an extending tab that folds and is closed by placing the tab in a receiving slot on the back wall of the secondary compartment. 